World champion elect Lewis Hamilton said he was looking forward to an exciting fight with both Ferraris and Red Bull's pole-sitter Max Verstappen despite qualifying back in fourth for Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton, who can clinch his sixth world title if he outscores Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 14 points in Sunday's race, said he had hoped to qualify in third position before Bottas' crash in final seconds.

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Valtteri Bottas' crash

Bottas was severely shaken, but climbed out of his wrecked car and was transferred to circuit medical center.He qualified sixth, making it unlikely that drivers' title race will be settled on Sunday."I think third place was possible, but last sector went to pot (when it was controlled by double yellow flags) so that was it," said Hamilton."Generally, I was quite happy with today. I knew it would be difficult, but I have a fighting position and I am going to give it everything.

"Red Bull look very quick on long runs and I think it will be about seeing if ir tyres last -- that is going to be name of game in this race. I am really looking forward to fight."

 

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'I had to risk it':  Valtteri Bottas 

Valtteri Bottas admitted he "had to risk it" when he buried his Mercedes into a trackside wall in a frantic conclusion to qualifying at Mexican Grand Prix. "I knew that I had to risk it in last run to gain positions, so I tried to squeeze everything out of car," said Bottas who is only driver who can deny teammate Lewis Hamilton from securing a sixth world title.

" lap was good until last corner where I went a bit wide on exit on dusty part of track and that's where I lost it and hit wall.
 

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